César(-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert) Franck
Belgian Born 10 Dec 1822 Died 08 Nov 1890
Born at Liège in 1822, Cèsar Franck was originally intended by his father for a career as a virtuoso pianist. In Paris his nationality excluded him at first from the Conservatoire, where he eventually failed to achieve the necessary distinction as a performer, turning his attention rather to composition. In 1846 he left home and went to earn his living as a teacher and organist, winning particular fame in the second capacity at the newly built church of Ste. Clotilde, where his improvisatory skill attracted attention. He drew to him a loyal and devoted circle of pupils and in 1871 won some official recognition as the nominated successor of Benoist as organ professor at the Conservatoire.
Franck's first major work was Six Pieces (1862). Of his large scale scared works the oratorio Les Beatitudes (1879) and symphonic poems Le chausseur maudit (1882) and Psyche (1888) stand out. But it is for his symphonic, chamber and keyboard work that Franck is held as one of France's best composers, in the Piano Quintet (1879), Prelude, Choral and Fugue for Piano (1884) or Symphony in D minor (1888) for example. Here conterpoint and traditional form balances with rich emotionalism.
A man of gentle character, known to his pupils as Pater seraphicus, he exercised considerable influence through his classes and performances, although remaining something of an outsider as a composer in a Paris interested largely in opera.
- MIDI FILE - Chorale no.2 for organ (10'59'')
Related composers: Beethoven, Liszt, Wagner
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